Automatic paper-folding machine



Nov. 6,` 1928. 1,690,902

' W. J. JEFFRIES El' AL AUTOIATIC PAPER FOLDING lAGHIN-E Nov. s, :92a I 1,690,902 w. J. JEFFRIES ET AL AUTOIATIC PAPER FOLDING HAUHINB I Filed Dec. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 machine.

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

WILLIAM J. JEFFRIES AND SCOTT w. GIBEONsOr PORTLAND, OREGON.

, AUTOMATIC PAPER-FOLDING MACI-II-NE.

Application ld December 5, 1927. Serial No. 237,837.

, This invention relates to improvements in automatic paper folding machines, one object of the invention being the provision of a portable machine adapted particularly for use in folding circulars, pamphlets and the like in mail-order houses, the same being so constructed that the sheet may be folded once, twiceor. thrice upon itself, and as may be desired. Y .i u

Another object of this invention is, the provision of a machine of thischaracter provided with a plurality of folding mechanisms operable in succession, but in which any one `of said mechanisms may berendered inoperative l5 at willor selectively so that the paper willy be folded either `with, a single, vdouble or treble fold, as desired. y

- Another kobject of this invention is theprovision of a machine of this character which ,m is simple, inex ensive and durable in con- -struction and t oroughly eiic-ient and practical in use. v l v y In the accompanyingk drawings z-f Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete Figure 2 illustrates in side elevation one folding mechanism, dotted lines showing the frame and the cam carried by the rollerto operate the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one Qf'the n folding mechanisms per se,

, Figure .4 is a side elevation of the cam and its roller. f k

Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof. Referring to theV drawings, the numeral l() designates the framework which has mounted therein the respective cooperating folding rollers v11 and 12, 13 and 14, 15 and' 16, and

the drive roller 17 and the belt-tensioning- .roller 18, there `being eight rollers around u which the operating belt 19, in reality the drive member for most of the rollers, is

ried upon said shaft operating'through the' the belt 24 another large pulley y25`which, in

turn, is mounted upon a shaft 26 and'carries a small pulley 27. A belt 28 transmits power from the lpulley 27 to the pulley'29 uponk the roller 17.Y Thus, it vwill be seen that the 'motor 20 operates the roller 17, and through "-55 the mediumfofthe transmission and folding Figures 2,3, 4 and 5, is a cam track 3() which the present is provided with the in-curved end 3l spaced from the. opposite endof the track, the purposefof vwhich isv to receive the roller 32 of the lever A33 which is pivoted, as at 34. The oppositeend of the lever 33 is connectedby a link 35 to the U-shaped folding frame 36, which is pivoted as at 36 and36a tothe frame of the machine, the pivot 36l being in the nature of a clamping device so that the folding frame may be elevated and locked in elevated position. The downwardly curved ends`37 of the frame carry the folding terminal or blade 38 while the spring 39 operates in opposition to the cam track 30 to move the folding framedownwardly and into engagement with the sheet of paper tobe folded and inY between the belt 19 and the folding rollers 12, '14 or 16. It will thusbe seen that asthe respectiverollers 11, 13 and 15 arev rotated, the lever 33, due to the engagement fthetrack, and due to thespring 39 the blade 38 is brought downwardly Vand intoV engagement with the sheet to be folded, as particularly illustrated in Figure 2.V The present mechanism is of a. light construction and as the machine is very small and adapted for v of its roller 32 with the cam track 30, will office use, the blade 38 hasimparted to it av` Y' light tap in goingdown due` to the weight. vof the same and the tension of the spring l 39, so that 'the operator may, atwill, prevent the movement of the frame either after the sheetof paperuhas been misplaced, or, if it is desired to render any one ofthe particular folding mechanisms inoperative. This is done bythe elevating ofthe blade and the tightening ofthe connection 36, and, ifdesired,the removal of thespring 39.

`In order that the paper may be properly fed to the folding mechanism, either one `mechanism or all-three, as illustrated, there4 is the feed-in table 40 at the upper end of the be Vplaced andfone sheet at a time placed upon the belt 19 above the roller 11, at'which point the Ybelt tende to move the paper and y'machine upon which the stack of paper may gai deliver it across the space between the rollers 11 and 12, so that the paper iests upon the shelf 111 and against the respective adjustable guides l2 and 42', said shelf i1 being supported in the brackets 43, and said brackets carrying the fixed blade 4:4 which extends transversely of the belt 19 and in such aposition as to prevent the paper fed upon the belt from being carried beyond this point by the belt and acting asa guide to direct the paper, from rthe belt over onto and upon the shelf Simultaneously With the placing of the edges` ofthe papers against the edges 'of the guides 42 and 42', thefolding blade 38`is brought downwardly and engages the paper intermediate of its ends", a portion still rest:` in; upon the bar or blade 44;, producing the fo d and delivering the paper betvveen the belt and the under sideV of the roller 12.` `:The folded paper, 'is` then carried beneath the roller 12 andV upon the'belt 19 andover the roller, 13, ivherethe blade 4140i this folding mechanism directs the sainey over and upon its respective shelf Ll1, the 'folding blade' 381 of the second met'ihanisiny operating in a jsimilarmannerfto produce the second fold in the sheet and the delivery thereofbetiveen the belt 19and the roller 14, the 'belt'carrying the thus folded sheet onward and over the' `i'foller 15` Where again the blade 44 of the third folding mechanism delivers the sheet upon the shelf 41 to' be'etained thereupon during the folding operation when the lastblade 38 is brought into play and causes the sheet to be again" folded anddirected between the roller 16 Aand the `belt^19 and carried therefrom `and over the roller 17 into thefd'i'recting chute i5 and out ofthe machine. H`Where 'it isdesired 'to use only one folding mechanisni, the tivo upper ones are rendered.

inactive, landfxvhere it is desired to fold the p'ap'er twice', the upper mechanism rendered ii'ia'ctive;

As it is desirable that the respective rollers 11',"13 andV 15 be operated 1n consonance or synchronism, there` is 'placed upon the respective shafts thereofthe'sproclret Wheels 4:7, Sand 49 around which is trained a sprocket chain 50.' Thus, as the rollers are rotated by their belt, the chain 50 will l'reep "them 'in proper' stepped or timed relation, and, consequently, the cam tracks 3() will be'operated so"that' the folding mechanism will :always be in time.

I Frofintlie connection'vvith'the drawings, it is evident that with a device of this characterpamphlets and'other sheets of advertising or othen'mattermay befolded vin a"`rapid^and tlibrough manner, andthat With thepresent mechanism as illustrated,"s'aid. sheet maybe folded either once, tivice'or thrice, according to the length thereof, and the desired size ofthe finally folded iguani'phlet. `This niachines especially adaptedE for use in small mail-order houses Where a certain number of pamphlets and serial letters are sent o-ut and Where an'erceedingly large and heavy machine is impracticable.

`We @leien- 1. paper folding machine including a frame, a plurality ofpairs of paper deliverg' ing and folding rollers journaled therein, a belt operablyconnected to all of said rollers, a final delivering roller operably connected to the'b'eldmeans operab'ly connected tosaid :rbllersivhereby V'the belt and other rollersare operated., a paper folding mechanism, one to-each pairl'f rollers, operably associated Airvithoiieirollei*'thereofffor delivering a fo'ldl ed sheet betiveenvthe belt and one ofthe roll eis,'s'aid latter mechanism 'including a' springactuated" 'folding `frame, and 'cooperative .means carried by said frame and one of'said rollers ivhe'reb'y-` the frame i'si'novfed away from folding position. "'AL' paper folding machine including a frame, a'plurality of 'pairs 'of'pap'er delivering and folding rollers jou'rnaled therein, a belt operably connectedto 'all 'of said rollers, aan shivering einer eperatiy edaneiea :to the belt, means operably connected td said rolleisivhereb'y the beltand other rollers are operated, a paper "folding mechanism, 'one toea'ch 'p'air of rollers, operably associated ivith onel Vroller thereof "for delivering a folded sheet between the belt ando'ne of the rollers, said'latter mechanism"including a spi'ingactuated 'folding Vframe, cooperative nieanscarried by said frame and one'ofsaid rollers whereby` the frai'ne is'moved 'away froni folding position, i and -selective means operable'-at ivill foi" rendering the folding ineinber inoperative. 3.,` The combination with a pair of rollers and a belt cooperativelyassociated therevvith toY forni one 'member 'of al foldingmec'hanism and a delivery means fpr sheets of paper, ofa paper flding and delivering means'includinge' pivtaily mounted U-'s'napediraina the portion ofin'ihi'ch `is adapted to be moved into and out of 'the meeting point be- 4tneen thenbelt and one lof Jsaid rollers, vSaid frai'n'e being ti'es'ilientl'y hiasedltovvard folding" 'ositibin means forihoving said frame outwardly and aivay froi'i'iifolding position, including aleve'r, and cooperative operating ineanscaifried b'y one end ofsaid lever' and 0 g operably connected to one of said rollers.` foregoing description taken in' f4. The combination niith a pair of rollers and abelt cooperatively associated thereivith toform one member o'f a folding mechanism and adelivery means for sheets of paper, of

a paper folding and delivering means includ- Y ing a pivotallyA mounted U-shaped frame, the

connecting portionof Which is adapted to be :moved into and out of the meetingpoint between tliebelt 'androne of said rollers, said frame beingi'esiliently biased toward folding Y position, means for moving said frame laute wardly and away from folding position, including a lever, cooperative operating means carried by one end of said lever and operably Connected to one of said rollers, means disg posed in the path of the belt for stripping the sheet therefrom previous to the folding operaton, and adjustable means for receiving the forward edge of thesheet and positioning` it for the rece In testmon our hands.

pton of the folding frame.

y whereof we have hereunto set l0. 

